Joe Biden simply in Washington state — additional solidifying his delegate lead towards Bernie Sanders, who received the state handily in 2016,
Joe Biden simply in Washington state — additional solidifying his delegate lead towards Bernie Sanders, who received the state handily in 2016, almost every week after the state’s major Election Day.
Given Washington’s extra progressive lean, this Biden victory, specifically, highlights simply how a lot momentum he’s picked up since Tremendous Tuesday. 4 years in the past, Sanders received the Washington caucuses by nearly 45 points, whereas shedding a nonbinding primary that happened later within the yr. (In 2016, the state held a caucus in March and a nonbinding major in Could — a observe that’s required by state legislation — although solely the result of the previous mattered within the delegates race.)
This time round, the state has opted to modify totally from a caucus to major with mail-in ballots, and the change probably helped Biden. Sanders previously has carried out very strongly in caucuses due to how devoted his base of voters is, however in a number of states that switched their methodology of voting this cycle — together with each Minnesota and Washington — he’s fallen brief.
Polling forward of the election had Biden and Sanders neck-in-neck with each other: According to the RealClearPolitics average, Biden was up by simply two factors with 41.5 p.c assist the Monday earlier than the first, whereas Sanders had 39.5 p.c.
Biden’s positive aspects from Washington — which has 89 pledged delegates — are notable, partly as a result of the state was seen as one that might give Sanders a much-needed increase.
Questions on voter turnout had additionally emerged within the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, which the state has been coping with in latest weeks. As a result of Washington has such an accessible mail-in poll system, nonetheless, many citizens had been nonetheless probably in a position to take part whereas following public well being officers’ steering about remaining house when attainable. (Voters acquired mail-in ballots a minimum of 18 days earlier than the election and had been in a position to submit them by election day.)
Biden’s success in Washington affords a troublesome message for Sanders as 4 extra states go to the polls on Tuesday, even amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“Right here we’re, a extremely blue state, very progressive, very supportive of Bernie 4 years in the past,” former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, a Biden supporter, told Politico. “So, if Bernie Sanders can’t win, and win huge right here, I believe that may be a actually troubling message for the marketing campaign for Bernie Sanders.”